Henry Hank wrote:Vitale gets scratched instead of Adams/Glass because they are put on the PK and he isn't. Simple and logical. Figures to be the same reason that Eaton will likely play over Despres once he's back up.

Thanks, I already stated that I knew that, but is Glass really contributing? The PK is ranked 21st in the league and he's hardly a standout on the PK. The simple and logical reason that he's in there is because he's more of a veteran than Vitale, which is ridiculous.

One of our weaknesses is faceoffs. Vitale brings that, plus energy.

Bolded simply isn't true. The Pens have the sixth best faceoff percentage in the league. Vitale is their best, for sure, but he takes a lower proportion of faceoffs as well. Crosby is well over 50% and Sutter is right about at 50%.

I don't know why Vitale doesn't kill penalties. I'd assume the coaching staff isn't dumb enough to purposely not use him if he was better than the guys they do use. Killing penalties requires more than just being good at faceoffs, being fast, and being hard working. Apparently from what they see of him in practice or whatever they don't think he's good enough yet.

The PK is no great shakes as it is but it could always be worse. perhaps it is even worse if they don't use the current group. personally, I think roster wise the problem is more the D than the F anyway. Murray should help address that.

All I kept reading was how bad Morrow's skating had become and how slow he is. Watching him in this first, he doesn't seem slow at all. He's fallen a couple times, but at least he doesn't pull a Geno and stay down forever, he springs right back up.

murphydump55 wrote:All I kept reading was how bad Morrow's skating had become and how slow he is. Watching him in this first, he doesn't seem slow at all. He's fallen a couple times, but at least he doesn't pull a Geno and stay down forever, he springs right back up.

His skating will not hold him back in this system.

Murray on the other hand? Well, I'm curious to see.

I'm skeptical about Morrow playing on Malkin's wing, but at the very least he makes the lower lines tougher and better.

At least it's 0-0. Pens getting really out-worked along the boards and the Habs' puck support has been really good so far. They are playing pretty hard but no damage yet and I think the Pens will get their legs going sooner or later, but better not wait until the 3rd.

Henry Hank wrote:Vitale gets scratched instead of Adams/Glass because they are put on the PK and he isn't. Simple and logical. Figures to be the same reason that Eaton will likely play over Despres once he's back up.

Thanks, I already stated that I knew that, but is Glass really contributing? The PK is ranked 21st in the league and he's hardly a standout on the PK. The simple and logical reason that he's in there is because he's more of a veteran than Vitale, which is ridiculous.

One of our weaknesses is faceoffs. Vitale brings that, plus energy.

Bolded simply isn't true. The Pens have the sixth best faceoff percentage in the league. Vitale is their best, for sure, but he takes a lower proportion of faceoffs as well. Crosby is well over 50% and Sutter is right about at 50%.

I don't know why Vitale doesn't kill penalties. I'd assume the coaching staff isn't dumb enough to purposely not use him if he was better than the guys they do use. Killing penalties requires more than just being good at faceoffs, being fast, and being hard working. Apparently from what they see of him in practice or whatever they don't think he's good enough yet.

The PK is no great shakes as it is but it could always be worse. perhaps it is even worse if they don't use the current group. personally, I think roster wise the problem is more the D than the F anyway. Murray should help address that.

I'm pretty sure that we're ranked that high because of Sid and Vitale, and only because Sid takes so many draws. I'm pretty sure he's 1st in the league, or close to it for faceoffs taken. Our overall % is heavily weighted by him. Vitale's good numbers only slightly add to it because of his low sample size.

Malkin - 45%Sutter - 49%Adams - 40%

If Sid didn't take as many draws as he did, and Vitale didn't contribute, we'd never be ranked where we are. Vitale would only help that weakness....so yes, aside from Sid, it is a weakness.

murphydump55 wrote:All I kept reading was how bad Morrow's skating had become and how slow he is. Watching him in this first, he doesn't seem slow at all. He's fallen a couple times, but at least he doesn't pull a Geno and stay down forever, he springs right back up.

His skating will not hold him back in this system.

Murray on the other hand? Well, I'm curious to see.

I'm skeptical about Morrow playing on Malkin's wing, but at the very least he makes the lower lines tougher and better.

Agreed, but I think he can become that space creator that Malkin needs. At least I'm hoping he does. But as you said, if not, he'll be a fine 3rd line addition and make them grittier and tougher.

IanMoran wrote:Not able to watch... Quick summary of how Morrow looks?

Not as slow as many people tried to make him out to be. He had a nice little bump on Subban that sent him wobbling and to the ice. Other than that, he wasn't noticeable, but nobody really was besides Fleury.